Solitude

Life is a drag. What’s the point of anything? I’ll never be happy. Do any of these gloomy thoughts sound familiar? It’s likely they do. The occasional case of the blues is perfectly normal, but that doesn’t make dealing with it any easier. If you allow them to, negative thoughts can fester and lead to serious depression. That’s why it’s important to take action early to bust yourself out of a slump. While these suggestions won’t eliminate your problems, they can help you break a negative thought pattern and stop feeling depressed. If you think you might have a serious mental health problem, don’t hesitate to see a medical professional. 1. Understand the emotional cycle – Life is an emotional roller coaster. Some days you feel like nothing can stop you. Other days you feel utterly hopeless. Most of the time you’re somewhere in between. Understanding the pattern of positive and negative emotions will help you put your feelings in perspective. Next time you feel ...

5 Foods to look fabulous at 40-plus Even after the baby, the French President's wife Carla Bruni  sports  a body that can put many young people to shame. Carla's "a little of what you fancy" approach to dieting is very popular in France. Here's how eating like her could help you too. No dieting Only 10 per cent of French  women  are overweight. Fullfat foods can actually keep you slim for two main reasons. They keep you fuller longer. Foods such as butter switch on 'full' signals in your brain but 'diet' foods, which are nearly always full of preservatives or sugar make you hungrier. And fullfat foods are difficult to binge on. It's hard to eat too much strong cheese or dark chocolate. Food from scratch In France, 76 per cent of women eat  meals  prepared from scratch at home. Meals from scratch usually contain less salt, sugar and preservatives. So prepare as many meals at home as you can. Don't add ready-made sauces to pas...

With so many studies extolling the health benefits of chocolate, does it mean that we can eat chocolate with complete abandon? Natasha loves chocolate with a passion. She would even steal it from the mouths of babes! She is not alone in her ardour. Chocolate has been called theobroma — the food of the gods. It is the one food substance that women have a strong love-hate relationship with. Melting sensuously on the tongue, it creates the most delightful sensations, intriguingly embracing one with intense feelings of love and being loved. It is hardly surprising that chocolate has become the symbol of Valentine's Day and is the number one gift to buy for a loved one. On the other hand, women also perceive chocolate as the devil's tool, the single temptation that often makes one wander off the path of healthy food resolutions. The production of cocoa has increased exponentially in the past few decades. According to the International Cocoa Organisation, production has ...

What's the secret of eternal youth? see the answer from experts If there is one thing on the wish list of most adults, it is to remain forever young and escape the effects of aging. However, getting on in years is something that cannot be avoided. What accelerates the aging process is the polluted environment we inhabit with all its toxins and chemicals, and the part played by free radicals. Although the human body produces a certain amount of antioxidants to counter free radicals, the silver lining is the fact that Nature has generously provided us with enough antioxidants in fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains/legumes to help halt the damage. In simple terms, antioxidants are agents that inhibit oxidation and neutralise the oxidant effect of free radicals and other substances, in other words, counter oxidative stress. The rusting of iron, brass artefacts turning black, an apple slice or a piece of raw potato turning brown, are examples of oxidation which happens to all cells i...

 Cerebral palsy, or CP for short, is the most common developmental disability in the United States. There are more than 500,000 people with CP in the United States today. Every year, almost 5,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with the condition. Maybe someone in one of your classes has cerebral palsy — or maybe you have it and you've been dealing with it your whole life. At a time when young people are so conscious of appearance and body image, it can be tough to be in a wheelchair or to have people tease you about the way you walk. But having cerebral palsy doesn't mean a girl or guy can't do what other people do. About Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy usually is a congenital disorder, which means that it's a problem that develops before or at birth. It can also result from brain damage that occurs in the first few months or years after birth. Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain that affects a person's ability to coordinate body movements....

The secret to losing weight isn’t just watching what’s on your plate; it’s also about watching what’s in your glass. Popular soft drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks can be loaded with added sugars and carbohydrates that can sabotage your weight-loss strategy. Here are five tasty ways to drink up without packing on the pounds.   1. Water We all know this one, but it’s important to remember that water is the single best choice for effective weight loss. Whether it’s still or sparkling, aim to make water your go-to beverage choice. Think water is boring? Try adding fresh lemon slices, lime, cucumber, and even a slice of tomato to add flavor without adding many calories. 2. Vegetable juice Whether in a can, bottled, or homemade, vegetable juice is an excellent way to get the fiber and nutrients your body needs to fuel your weight loss. If you can find a low-sodium variety, even better. The veggies will keep you fuller longer and the tangy flavor will keep your taste buds happy. ...

The weight loss industry grows at six per cent a year and yet the incidence of obesity also increases by six per cent every year! Obviously something is not working. To make matters worse, we are deafened by a cacophony of conflicting dietary advice from the Cookie Diet to the Cabbage Soup Diet and everything in between. If you’ve found it hard to maintain or lose weight, you need to go beyond the familiar “diet and exercise” mantra. There are three hidden causes for the obesity epidemic. 1. The “Overfed / Undernourished” Syndrome Depleted soil conditions and refining give us nutritionally bankrupt foods which fill us without nourishing us. This leads to constant hunger at the cellular level. Solution: Turn to “superfoods” such as wheat grass and alfalfa sprouts to satisfy your ‘cellular’ hunger. Voila! You will eat less and feel more satisfied without dieting! 2. The “Craving-for-Refined-Foods” Syndrome It is not the lack of will power, but undiagnosed food allergies that make you...

Do you remember the first time you tried to stand on your little feet? You stumbled and fell down immediately. Your mom rushed to you seeing you cry out aloud, wrapped her arms around, pulled you close and kissed on your cheek. You felt her warmth and love and those drops of tears disappeared from your eyes even before you realized . Do you remember the first time you crossed a street with your father? He lifted you up in his arms and with very cautious steps he carried you across. You felt so secured. Yes that's how our parents are; an eternal source of care and affection, an indomitable sense of security and so much more. But, when this endless love tends to be overbearing, when the security of their arms chain down our dreams, where do we look up to? We get drowned in an awkward feeling of disgust which we all hate to acknowledge. Superficial life Beginning from the days of our school we are nurtured to be the best among the rest wherever we go and in whatever we do. And, neve...

I think I am too fat', ‘too short', ‘my hair's too straight'… if you are the type who never tires of self-assessment, then get ready for a mental makeover. Self-image is how you see yourself which reflects on how you feel. Today's youngster often suffers from poor self-image. It's a young people's ‘thing'. Sometimes even something as simple as walking across a room may be traumatic, as the person feels like all eyes are on him/her, judging and analysing. Ask any person how they feel about their looks and you will probably get something like, “I'm too fat” or “I could've been a little taller” or “Maybe if I had straight hair, I'd look better” or “I'm a shade too dark” ... Very few actually say they feel perfect, inside out. It's nobody's fault, really. All in the mind In today's world, with so many ‘beautiful' people around, one who is different from the conventional perception of beauty may actually feel awkward. “I rem...

“Am I fit?” How many times would you have asked yourself this question? Self-evaluation on fitness is tough because you never know what you are supposed to be looking for! Even a “slim” woman could be unhealthy. Conversely, a “stout” man could be really fit. So what are the criteria? Let's reflect just a little bit on fitness and what it means. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and take a good, hard look at yourself. Do you see a slouching body that needs to stand tall? Pinch your midriff. Are your fingers picking up a roll of fat? Smile. Does your face glow; do you feel energetic; are you in shape? Remember, your mirror tells you a lot. Often, it is more accurate than the opinions of people around, so pay attention! These questions tell you where you are right now. But, as you are aware, your fitness status could keep changing. There could be phases in your life where exercise is minimal such as during the monsoon season, or when you are on a vacation. You have to make a co...